Packers Draft Rumors: Team “High On” WR D’Wayne Eskridge

The Green Bay Packers will certainly be in the market for a wide receiver in this year’s draft, given that they currently don’t have anyone under contact after the 2021 season. Not to mention that adding another dynamic weapon or two to the league’s top offense isn’t a bad idea either.

Fortunately for Green Bay, this is a deep receiver class, especially with potential slot receivers who work well in space. And according to Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network, Western Michigan’s D’Wayne Eskridge is someone who the Packers are “high on.”

Pauline would also mention the New Orleans Saints and the Chicago Bears as two other “speed-needy” teams who have shown an interest in Eskridge.

Eskridge is a very experienced player, spending five years at Western Michigan. He became a full-time starter in 2017, where over the next two seasons, he was targeted 136 times, hauling in 50 percent of those targets for 518 yards in 2017 and 767 yards in 2018 at an impressive 18.8 yards per catch. Eskridge also found the end zone six times during that span.

Eskridge would, unfortunately, miss most of the 2019 season with a fractured clavicle but bounced back with a monster 2020 season. He would catch nearly 71 percent of his 48 targets over just six games at a ridiculous 23.1 yards per catch and with eight touchdowns.

To put it simply, Eskridge was a playmaker, finishing the year with 14.4 YAC per reception, the most in college football, and second in yards per route run with 4.94, according to PFF ($$). As Pauline notes, prior to the 2020 season, Eskridge was likely to be an undrafted rookie; now, many in the NFL suggest that he has “cemented himself as a late second-round pick.”

Eskridge primarily lined up on the boundary at Western Michigan but has some slot experience, with about 15 percent of his career snaps coming from there. The addition of Eskridge would give the Green Bay Packers’ offense a YAC ability that they just haven’t had and someone who would fit well in the Matt LaFleur system with manufacture touches and as the motion man.

Pretty much just find a way to get Eskridge the ball in space — which LaFleur schemes up very well — and let him do the rest. Another aspect of Eskridge’s game that likely makes him very appealing to Green Bay is his ability as a run-blocker, something that LaFleur puts a premium on at the receiver position. Jordan Reid of The Draft Network called Eskridge “a vicious and high effort run blocker.”

It’s also worth noting that Eskridge also has kick return experience. Another area that Green Bay could use some help in–so check that box off as well.

On the flip side, it is worth mentioning that Eskridge is already 24-years-old, and he measured in at just below 5’9″ and weighing 190 pounds, which is below the typical thresholds that the Green Bay Packers hold at the receiver position. With that said, Randall Cobb, at 5’10” – 191 pounds, is in that ballpark and chances are that if the Packers want to add this skill-set to the offense, the prospect may not meet those height and weight thresholds.

For more on Eskridge, here is what else Reid had to say in his pre-draft report on the Western Michigan receiver:

"“Eskridge is a well-developed wideout that has the mentality of a defensive player. With strong hands and a seasoned route tree, he’s capable of playing on the inside or outside. Also a mainstay on special teams, he’s a prospect that will be on every special teams unit—not only as a returner, but as a hustle man on both kickoff and punt groups. A vicious and high effort run blocker, he has bone-crushing blocks on the perimeter and doesn’t take plays off if the ball isn’t in his hands.”"

At this time of the year, every rumor should be taken with a grain of salt. This is called “lying season” for a reason, as teams don’t want to give anything away and might be trying to get other teams to believe something that just isn’t true. But when it comes to Eskridge and the Green Bay Packers, given the need at the position along with his skill-set, fit in LaFleur’s offense, and return ability, it does make a lot of sense.